Malt-stirring apparatus.



No. 315,275. r V PATENTED MAR.13,,1906.

J, P. DORNFELD.

MALT STIRRING "APPARATUS; APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1903.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1,

J. F. DORNPBLD.

MALT STIRRING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1 8. 1903.

"Will! PATBNTE DMAR.13.,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 13, 19061 J.F.DORNFELD. MALT surname AP PAR'ATUs.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 18. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

iii

4% am KM UNrr nnsTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. DORNFELD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- 1101s,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Malt StirringApparatus, of which the following is a specificatlon. The obj ect ofthis invention is the production of a traveling stirring mechanismadapted to pass over a body of grain being malted and stir the same, soas to separate the ker- 5 nels for the free passageof air through themass, and to accomplish this result without causing a bodily or Wavemovement of the grain in the direction of travel of the stirringmechanism.

The invention further refers to an improved traveling mechanism forcarrying and actuating the stirring device. V

' The invention also refers to an automatic means for halting'thecarriage at a certain predetermined point in its travel. j

The invention further refers to various improvements, both in. generalconstruction and in detail, of a malt-stirring apparatus embodying theinventive ideas hereinbefore outlined.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure Us a front elevation ofthisimproved malt-stir ring apparatus, the wallsof the malt-receptacle beingin section. Fig. 2 1s a transverse section through the stirringmechanism on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailview on the same plane as Fig. 2, showing the mechanism for moving thestirrer-carriage. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on dottedline 4 4 of Fig. 1'. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on dotted line 5 i,5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one .of the stirrer-arms.Fig.7 1s a transverse sectional view through a stirrer-arm, taken ondotted line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment herein shown of this invention a carriage adapted tobe moved upon a suitable track forward and backward over amalt-receptacle is provided, which carriage is fitted with verticalrotatable shafts eX- tending downward from said carriage and bearingnear their lower ends curved stirrerarms projecting from said shafts.Each of these stirrer-arms carries at its outer end a curved blade orpaddle pivotally connected with the stirrer-arm. The free pivotalmovement of these blades with reference to their supporting-armspermitsthe blades to pass Specification of Letters Patent.

Application'filed April 18,1303. Serial No. 153,189.

Patented March 13, 1906.

i through the body of the grain without caus- ;ing a bodily or wavemovement of the grain from one end of the receptacle to the other,

merely loosening the grain, as the blade as sumes with relation to itssupporting-arm an angle dependent upon' both the speed of the blade inits orbit and the speed of its bodily advance through themalt-receptacle. angle also difiers with the I of the carriage. I

- In the construction of this apparatus I provide a malt-receptacle 1,having a perforated direction of travel bottom 2, side walls 3, and endwalls 4.

Upon the side walls 3 I mount the tractionrails 5. A carriage 6 of alength about equal to the width of the malt-receptacle 1 is providedwith the traction-wheels 7 at its opposite ends, which wheels run uponthe traction-rails 5,- whereby the carriage may be moved forward andback throughout the length of the malt-receptacle The carriage 6'comprises a framework 8 and a hood 9, rising above said framework tocover the operating mechanism. A feedshaft 10, rotatably mounted inbearings 11 at oneside of the framework 8, carries at each of itsopposite ends a sprocketwheel l2, fixed to said shaft 10. On each sideof and somewhat below the sprocket-wheels 12 are two guide-sheaves 13and 14, each rotatably mounted upon the carriage 6, near the forward'andrear sides thereof, and alined with the sprocket-wheels 12. Along eachof the side walls 3 of the malt-receptacle a length of sprocket-chain 15extends, said chains being securedat theirends to the end walls 4 bymeans of eyes 16, and intermediate said ends each chain passesunderneath the guidesheaves 13 and 14 and over the sprocketwheel 12 attheend 'of the carriage-6 adjacent This to the side of the receptaclealong which the chain passes. Near the center of the carriage 6, thefeed-shaft 10 carries a wormwheel 17, .and adjacent thereto androtatively mounted in suitable bearings upon the carriage 6'is avertical shaft18, carrying near its lower end a worm 19, which mesheswith the teeth of the worm-Wheel 17. The vertical shaft 18 carries aclutch 'member 20, splined thereto, but free to be moved lengthwfi'se ofsaid shaft by means of the pivoted L- s a sai sliding "clutch member. 22of said lever is weighted and extends upwardly into a position to beengaged'by autoe lever 21, one arm of which engages with The other armIIO matic shifting-stops to be hereinafter described. At either side ofthe clutch mem ber the vertical shaft 18 carries a chainwheel 23 and 24,having clutch-hubs adapted to be engaged by the clutch member 20.

The means for driving the stirring-shafts and moving the carriage willnext be described. At intervals throughout thelength of the framework 8of the carriage 6 I mount in the bearings 25 stirrer-shafts 26,extending downwardly from said carriage, each of-said shafts bearing atits lower end several stirrerarms 27, which arms are secured to thestirrershafts in any suitable mannersuch, for instance, as a pinch fittightened by means of the locking-screws 28. The stirrer-arms are formedwith an angular forward edge and upon their ends carry pivotallymountedcurved stirrer-blades 29. The pivotal movement of the stirrer-blades 29with reference to the stirrer-arms 27 is limited by the form of the endof the arm adjacent to the point of ivotal connection between the armand the lade. At its upper end each of the stirrershafts bears amlter-gear 30, adapted to mesh with similar gears 31, which gears 3 1are fixed at intervals upon a drive-shaft 32, extending longitudinallyof and rotatably su ported on the carriage 6 in suitable bearings edthereon. The drive-shaft 32 carries at one of its ends outside saidcarriage a large spur-gear 33, and meshing therewith is a. pinion 34,fixed upon a shaft 35, mounted 1n suitable bearings 36 in the arms 37,extending upwardly from the carriage 6. A drive-sheave 38 is fixed uponthe shaft 35, and adjacent to said drive-sheave is a guide-sheave 39,mounted upon a tilted shaft 40. This tilted shaft is rotatably supportedin bearings 41, carried by the arms 42, which arms are fixed to thecarriage and extend upwardly therefrom. The drive-sheave 38 carries anendless cable 43, which passes over said drive-sheave 38 to adouble-grooved sheave 44, fixed upon a power-shaft 45, rotatably mountedin suitable bearings supported by the bracket 46, which bracket issecured to one of the end walls 4 of the malt-receptacle 1. From thesheave 44 the cable passes over a tightenersheave 47, supported in amanner to be hereinafter described, back to the sheave 44, and acrossthe malt-receptacle to a guide-sheave 48, rotatably mounted in bearin s49, supported upon the opposite end walT 4. From the sheave 48 the cablepasses around the guide-sheave 39 to the drive-sheave 38. Thetightener-sheave 47 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 50, slidablysupported upon a guide-rod 51, which bracket also supports a pinion 52,adapted to mesh with rack-teeth 53, formed upon the guide -rod 51. Thebracket 50 may be moved forward and backward u on said guide-rod 51 byrotating the hand-w eel 54, fixed with relation to the pinion 52, andmay be locked at any point upon said guide-rod by means of thelocking-pin 55, extending through a portion of the bracket and lying inthe space between adjacent teeth of said pinion.

Power is transmitted from the drive-shaft 35 upon the carriage 6 to thevertical shaft 18 by the following-described mechanism: A chain-wheel 56is fixed upon the drive-shaft 32 near the middle portion thereof, and asimilar (idler) chain-wheel 57 is rotatably supported in bearings 58,fixed u on the framework of the carriage 6. A ciain 59 passes over thechain-wheels 56 and 57, assing intermediately over the chain-whee s 23and 24 on the vertical shaft 18. The two chain-wheels 23 and 24 are thusconstantly rotated in contrary directions, the direction of rotation ofthe vertical shaft 18 depending upon the position of its clutch member20. When the clutch member 20 is in engagement with the clutch-hub ofthe chain-wheel 23, the vertical shaft 18 is rotated in one direction,and by reason of the worm-gear connection between said vertical shaftand the feed-shaft 10 the carriage 6 is moved. When the clutch member 20is in engagement with the clutch-hub of the chain-wheel 24, thedirection of rotation of said vertical shaft 18, and consequently thedirection of travel of the carriage 6, is in the contrary direction. Sto8 60 and 61 are secured to the end walls 4 o the malt-receptacle 1 atopposite points thereon and project inwardly toward the center of saidreceptacle. These sto s are in a position to engage the arm 22 o the L-shape lever 21 and by the travelim movement of the carria e to move theL-SiliLPG lever and shift the c utch member 20 from engagement witheither one of the clutch-hubs of the chain-wheels 23 and 24 into anintermediate position, stopping the travel of the carriage I Thesprocket feed-chains 15, comprising a part of the carriage-movingmechanism, are much better adapted for this purpose than racks would be.Racks are likely to become clogged with malt, which malt is rolled intothe toothed faces of the racks and accumulating therein and becominghard interferes with the smooth operation of the carriage. The chains 15are light, readily adaptable and adjustable, durable, self-cleaning ofmalt, and in all ways preferable to rack-bars and pinions as a carriae-feed.

In operation ma ted grain or other grain to be stirred is placed in themalt-receptacle 1 and power communicated to the driving and movingmechanisms of the carriage 6 by means of the cable 43. The movement ofthe cable produces a rotatory movement of the stirrer-shafts 26 andcauses the stirrer-blades 27 to move in their orbits about theirrespective supporting-shafts. The rotation of the stirrer-shafts isalways in one direction. The rotatory movement of the drive-shaft 32 isIIS was

also communicated, by means of the vertical shaft 18 and itsworm-gearing 17 and .19, to the feed-shaft to move the carriage upon thetraction-rails 5 lengthwise of the malt-recep Fig. 2 the direction oftravel of the carriage is from right to left, as indicated by the arrowin said figure. The angle of inclination assumed by the stirrer-blades29 with relation to their respective arms 27 is variable, depending u onthe rapidity of their forward travel wit relation to their rotatorymovement, also having regard to the density of the mass of grain throughwhichthey pass. These blades being pivotally mounted upon the outer endsof the stirrer-arms are free to assume the position offering the;leastresistance to their movement through the grain. The curve of the bladebeing of a smaller radius than its orbit about the center of thestirrer-shaft, its passage throu h the grain tends further to mix orstir it. n Fig. 6 the .outward extremity of the pivotal movement of theblade is indicated by the dotted line as,

which line also represents the radius of the rotative movement of theblade. The forward edge of each of thestirrer-arms is made thin or sharpin order-that said arms shall pass through the grain with the leastpossile resistance. i From the foregoing it is'clear that thestirrer-blades have three movements-to wit, a bodily travel due to theirconnection with the carriage 6, an orbital movement about the rotativecenter of their vertical shafts 26, and

I the blade 29,

, an automatic adjusting movement on their supporting-pivots. s thecarriage 6 travels forward and backward upon its supporting-rails firstone side and then the other side of thecarriage is in front, dependingupon the direction of said travel. This front side may be termed theadvance? side of the carriage. When cuttingthrough the bo'dy of malt,approaches the advance side of its orhit, it is forced through hard orpacked malt. The forward travel of the carriage causes the blade to bepressed sidewise against the body of malt, and owing to the fact thatthe end of said blade rearward of the pivotal side thereof isconsiderably longer than the forward end or point said blade is inclinedupon its pivot and its point caused to project, the consequence ofwhichis that the blade makes a wider path at the advance side of itsorbit than at the rear side of the orbit. relatively rear side of itsorbit an effectdirectly opposite to that just described occurs.

through the grain without disturbing the poend.

tent,- whereby bodily travel or wave movement of the mass of grain isobviated.

Theapparatus herein illustrated and des'cribedis susceptible of manymodifications in the form and arrangement of its parts without adeparture from the spirit and scope of my invention, wherefore I do notlimitmyself to theparticular construction herein set forth. i

.I claim as my invention 1. A curved stirrer arm for malt-stirringapparatus, said arm having a sharpened outer edge and being providedwith a blade pivoted to its forward end;

2. A curved stirrer-arm for malt-stirring apparatus having a bladepivoted to. its forward end, which blade is providedwith awedging-point. 3. In amalt-stirrin apparatus, in combination, astirrer-arm Iiaving a blade pivotally supported with reference theretomeans for moving said arm forward and backward; and'mea'ns for rotatingsaid arm in the plane of its to-and-frov travel.

4. In a malt-stirring apparatus, in combi-v nation, a stirre -arm havinga blade pivotally mounted thereon near its outer end;

means for moving said arm forward and backward; and means for rotatingsaid arm in the plane of its to-and-fro travel. I

5. In a malt-stirring apparatus, in combination, a curved stirrer-armward end; means for rotating said arm and means :for moving saidarmforward and.

backward.

6. In a malt-stirring apparatus, in combination, a traveling carriage; ashaft supported in said carriage, which shaft is adapted to be'rotatedin the carriage; and a stirrer-arm fixed to said shaft, which arm has ablade 7. In a malt-stirring apparatus, in combination, a travelingcarriage a rotatable shaft supported in said carriage; and a curvedstirrer-arm fixed to said shaft, which arm has a sharpened forward edgeand a blade pivoted to its forward end.

8. In a stirring apparatus, in combination,

a pivotally-sup orted stirrer-blade adapted to be passed tfirou h thesubstance to be stirred; means for a vancingtlie blade bodily'; andmeans for moving the blade in an orbit lying in the plane movement ofsaid blade.

9. In a malt-stirring apparatus, in combination, a, traveling carriage;means for su porting said carriage; a stirrer-shaft rotatalymounted insaid carriage a stirrer-arm fixed with relation to said stirrer-shaft; ablade pivoted to the forward end of said stirrer-arm; a driveshaft;.agear connection between said driveshaft and saidstirrerplane of thetravel of its sition of said grain to anyconsiderable ex having a sharp-'ened outer edge and a blade pivoted to its forpivoted to its forwardshaft; a feed-shaft mounted on said carriage; afeed-chain stationarywith reference to the travel of said carriage; a drive connectionbetween the feed-shaft and said feed-chain; and a differential drivingconnection between the drive-shaft and the feed-shaft, whereby thefeed-shaft may be rotated in either direction.

10. In a malt-stirring apparatus, in combination, a traveling carriage;means for supporting said carriage; vertical stirrer-shafts rotatablymounted in said carriage; a curved stirrer-arm fixed upon the lower endof each of said stirrer-shafts; a blade pivoted to the forward end ofeach of said stirrer-arms; a drive-shaft gear connections between saiddrive-shaft and said stirrer-shafts; a feedshaft mounted on saidcarriage; a feed-chain stationary with reference to the travel of saidcarriage; a drive connection between the feed-shaft and said feed-chain;and a differential driving connection between the driveshaft and thefeed-shaft, whereby the feedshaft may be rotated in either direction.

11. A stirrer-blade for rotary stirring apparatus, having a body portioncurved, with a radius smaller than that of its orbital movement.

12. A stirrer-blade for rotary stirring apparatus, pointed at itsforward end and having a body portion curved, with a radius smaller thanthat of its orbital movement.

13. A stirrer-blade for rotary stirring apparatus, having a body portioncurved, with. a radius smaller than that of its orbital movement, andadapted to be pivotally supported at a point nearer to one of its ends tmm the other.

JOHN F. DORNFELD.

Witnesses:

L. L. MILLER, GEORGE L. OHINDAHL.

